''No.'' He said. ''No.'' He said again. ''You're lying.''
''I'm no-''
''Yes, you are! I don't have parents!'' He yelled. ''So what, you only care now because I'm some criminal that needs to be arrested?''
''That's not it.''
''Yes, yes it is!'' He slammed a fist into the wall. ''Why are you still here? Shouldn't you be sending me off to prison now?''
''That's not what I'm trying to do. Harry, please calm down. Before today I didn't know that I had a son.''
He stared at Superman. ''What?''
''If I knew maybe things wouldn't have gone this far,'' Superman said. ''If I knew then maybe I could have taken you in a long time ago.''
He took half a dozen steps back. ''Take me-'' He stopped. ''I'm in a prison cell.''
''You don't have to be,'' Superman said lightly. ''There is still a chance.''
''And what if I say no? What will you do, throw me into prison anyway?'' He didn't let Superman answer. ''That's what will happen, isn't it.''
''I won't lie to you. A few others thought that would be better.''
''If the police would have just left me alone, none of this would have happened!'' He exploded. ''If my uncle would have just left me alone for once, none of this would have happened!'' He slammed his fist into the wall, and the bed behind Superman burnt into ashes. ''I wouldn't have done anything to them if they just left me alone.''
''I won't pretend to know what happened,'' Superman said quietly. ''But no matter how hard we try, we can't change the past. But we change our future. I want to give you a clean slate. A chance for a new life.'' Superman put a hand on his shoulder, and this time he let him. ''But I can't force you to come with me.''
''I'm a criminal.'' He said. ''I know that. Do you really think the police are just going to forget about me?''
''We will be moving far away from London,'' Superman revealed. ''A new name and a new appearance could work. But you have to promise me that you won't attack anyone else.''
''I only attacked the police because they attacked me first.'' He said coldly. ''But if they attack me, I'll attack them.''
''Then we have a deal.''
''Who said I was actually going to go?'' He asked. ''But... I guess going with you is better than going to Prison.''
Superman put a hand on his shoulder. ''Then let us get you out of here.''
''Bru- Batman,'' Superman said, after they left the jail cell, where Batman was hunched over a computer. ''You're still here.''
''I was just leaving.'' Batman turned at him and looked at him. He scowled at him.
''What? Are you going to trap me again?'' He growled.
''Harry,'' Superman said.
''What?'' He asked. ''He did it before.
''As long as you don't assault anyone else, I won't.'' Batman narrowed his eyes. ''But if you do, I will be watching. Goodbye, Clark.''
''He means well.''
He didn't respond.
''Well, before we return to Metropolis, maybe we should clean you up a bit.''
''I look fine.'' He said, before adding. ''Fine. So people don't know I'm me, right.''
He didn't need an answer before he ripped out damp tangles of hair until it only went down to his neck.
''You didn't have to ruin your hair like that.'' Superman looked at the bald patches on his head. ''I'm sure there were other ways to cut it.''
He shrugged. ''It'll grow back, It normally does.''
It did. Moments after he said that strands of raven dark hair regrew on his bald spots.
''That is useful.'' Superman looked at clothes. Trainers with toes poking out. A pair of torn shorts. And finally, a t-shirt that was about two sizes too small. ''I think clothes are the next thing we should change.''
''I'm wearing this. I've had these for like a year now.''
''And that's why you need new clothes. Come with me.''
Harry followed Superman down a hatch, where he saw half a dozen doors on either side. Superman opened one of them, and they walked into a dark room. Superman clapped his hands, and panels of light brightened the room up.
''A changing room. Are you serious?''
''Well, yes and no. It's mainly for costumes, but there should be some clothes for you somewhere.''
He stepped from box and box until he found something. Some jeans. A pair of trainers. A baggy jumper, and a baseball cap.
''I need to go to London quickly.''
Superman watched him.
''I'm not trying to run away. I just – I just need to get something.''
''I can get it for you. What is it?''
He looked Superman in the eye. ''My dogs.''
Superman raised an eyebrow. ''You have dogs?''
'Yeah, four of them.'' He balled his fists up. ''I said I'd go with you, and I would. But if you don't let me take them with me then I'm staying in London.''
''Of course, we can,'' Superman said. ''I remember when I was your age, we had a dog called Josie. I loved her more than anything in the world. But unfortunately, we didn't keep a close enough eye on her.
''Oh... what happened?''
Superman closed his eyes. ''She was run over by a car.''
''Oh.'' He mumbled. ''Sorry.''
''It's not your fault. I was telling you because I know what she meant to me. They can come with us. But before we go to London, I think I need to change too.''
Superman spun in a circle at Light Speed, and by the time he was done, a different man was in front of him. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a pair of glasses pressed against his nose.
''You're…. Superman?''
''My real name is Clark Kent.'' Clark pulled out a pair of glasses. ''Here.''
He stared at them. ''There's no way I'm wearing them.''
''If we're returning to London, I don't want there to be trouble. Please just wear them for the time being.''
He sighed and took them. ''Fine.''
They left the room. Went up through the hatch. Walked into another room, where he had to cover his eyes from the bright lights that gleamed down on them. They went over to a floor panel, where Clark asked. ''Where in London is it?''
He answered. ''Peckham.''
A bright light surrounded them before they dropped inside of an alleyway.
''What's that smell?'' Clark asked, his nose twitching.
''I don't know.'' His nose twitched too. ''Maybe alcohol…. Or maybe it's drugs.''
''And how do you know about drugs?''
''Why wouldn't I? I'm not dumb?''
They walked out of the alleyway and were immediately greeted with the sight of three hooded men staring at them. They ignored them. Clark looked around at the torn-apart houses and pried a needle from the ground.
''Do you live here?'' Clark asked slowly.
''Yeah.''
Clark looked at him.
''Look, It kind of sucks here. But police hardly ever come here unless they're looking to arrest someone. Which is… good for me.''
''Was good for you.'' Clark looked through a broken window. ''The police haven't done anything?'
''Not really. They really only come in here when things get really bad. Like really bad. And it's not like there's thousands of Superheros like in America.''
''I thought that was the case. Maybe I should return here to a later date.'' Clark looked troubled. ''Nothing has happened to you here, has it?''
He turned his face away. ''No.''
''Harry?''
He sighed. ''Maybe they tried something a few times, but let's say I taught them a lesson….. So now everyone here is scared of me.'' A group of men started to cross the road. ''Although because my hair is different.'' He tapped his glasses. ''And this. I don't know if they know it's me.''
Clark stopped. ''They didn't hurt you did they.''
He didn't look at Clark. ''Do you really think knives work on me? And what's up with you acting all concerned all of a sudden? You literally put me in a prison cell.
''That was the past,'' Clark said. ''And only because we did, doesn't mean I can't feel worried for you. You are still my son.''
He felt himself grow stiff. ''We aren't far now.''
A man started walking up to them not long after he said that. He was bone thin, wearing clothes that barely fit him. He looked at them with bloodshot eyes, a jagged knife in his hand.
''What are you guys doing here.''
Clark took a step closer to him and asked. ''Can we help you.''
''What're you doing here.'' The pale man asked with a smile. Looking at their clothes. Don't normally see guys like you here.''
He scowled at the man. ''Leave.''
''I'm the one with the knife.'' The man sang as he swung his knife. ''So you've got any money on you?''
Clark said, ''You don't have to do this.''
The man pointed his knife at Clark. ''Then come along with me. You don't want your boy to hurt, do you?''
''Screw this.'' He took his wrist and twisted. The man screamed, and cut at him, but all it did was slice a chunk from his jumper. He twisted his wrist one more time, before pushing him to the ground. He cocked his fist back, but Clark grabbed a hold of his wrist.''
''I think he's had enough.''
He tugged his hand free. ''Then he shouldn't have tried to stab me, or try to rob me, or whatever.
Clark looked at the man, who scrambled to his feet with his fingers digging into his wrists. ''You're him!''
He walked towards the man. ''Yeah, I am. And if you don't start running I'm going to break more than just your wrist.'' Even as the man started running, he didn't stop stalking him. He only stopped, as Clark held onto his shoulder.
''Going to try to arrest me again?''
''I'm not going to arrest you for defending yourself,'' Clark said. ''Although you might have almost gone too far.''
He shrugged. ''He deserved it. He was going to attack us, or rob us, or whatever.''
''I meant what I said, Harry. I'm not telling you that you shouldn't have defended yourself, but if that punch had landed, it could have caused real damage.''
''So I just shouldn't punch people anymore? I've seen you punch people on TV before.'' He said, even if he knew those people weren't normal humans.
''Only when there is no other option. Again, I'm not saying you shouldn't have defended yourself, but we are far stronger than the average individual. Maybe you won't mean to, but you could hurt someone beyond repair.''
''Do you think I'm going to kill somebody!'' He asked loudly. ''I know I've hurt people really, really bad, but I've never killed anyone.''
''I know you wouldn't intentionally, but accidents like that can happen with people like us. That's why restrain is so important.''
He crossed his arms. ''I'm not going to kill anyone.''
Clark smiled down at him. ''I know you won't.''
''There is another reason why restrain is important,'' Clark whispered to him, as they continued down the street. ''Using our powers in public, could easily link us to our true identities.''
''He won't say anything.'' He whispered back. ''Nobody here will. They hate the cops.''
''Maybe,'' Clark said. ''But I'm not only talking about the police.''
They took one turn and walked down the alleyway. Once they passed by a poster, with the name, Evans Home, written across it, he said. ''We're here.'' And louder, he yelled. ''Guys, I'm home.''
Promptly, four barking dogs ran out of the shadows and jumped up at him from four different angles. ''Told you guys I wouldn't be long.''
Harry remembered the jump from Little Whinging to London being quite something. In Little Whinging everyone knew everyone, while in London nobody knew each other. The streets were so loud you could barely think. Everything was so massive, even he could find himself lost in certain places. He'd never think he would see a place quite like it again. He was wrong.
Metropolis had towers that looked like something from a comic book. It was somehow even louder than London, with what looked to be twice as many people as London.
As they rode across the city. Clark in the front, and him in the back. Clark had tried to start a conversation several times. He did answer, but most of the time it was limited to, no or yes. That was until he finally asked, ''Why are we even in a car? Can't we just run to your place?''
''We already ran from London. I thought you would be tired.''
''Well, I'm not. I could have gone for another hour.''
''That may be true. But I also thought it would be good if you learn your way around Metropolis. It's your home now.''
He looked out the window. ''Yeah, well, I've had multiple homes. They don't usually stick.''
Clark looked in the car view mirror. ''This time it will.''
They eventually parked in front of a tall building. He saw the name, The Daily Planet printed against it.
''I won't be long,'' Clark said. ''I just need to talk to my boss.''
''You're boss?'' He asked. ''You have a boss?''
Clark raised an eyebrow. ''Why wouldn't I?''
''Because you're Superman.''
''I am Superman.'' Clark agreed. ''But I am also Clark Kent.''
Harry watched Clark until he disappeared into the building. He looked outside of the window, one hand on the door handle and thought. I could leave right now. He could have. But what would've happened then? Would he be branded as a criminal again? Would they come after him again? He spared his dogs one glance, as he let his hands fall back to the soft cushion of his seat.
Clark returned around ten minutes later. ''I wasn't too long, was I?'' He didn't answer.
He saw a car race past them, through a green traffic light, and almost ran a man over. They drove for a few more minutes before he heard a police siren. He whipped his head around and saw two policemen stepping out of their car. They were walking towards them.
''What do they want?'' He dug his fingers into the door handle. ''If they try anything, I'll-''
''They aren't here for you,'' Clark said, the car stopping.
''Yes, they are. If they weren't, why are they here? I know they're for me.''
''Listen to me.'' Clark's voice was quiet, but there was steel in it. ''They aren't here for you. And even by the off chance they are, we will deal with it when the time comes.'' The window lowered, as the two police approached.
''Sir…. I didn't do anything wrong did I?''
The older of the two looked at Clark, and then at him. He looked back.
''Thought you said Jack was in a BMW.'' The older one muttered. ''Sorry folks. Thought you were someone else.''
''Did something… happen?'' Clark asked quietly.
''Nothing to worry about. Just a…. Carjacking. Have a good night.''
Clark closed the window. ''I told you there was nothing to worry about.'' They pulled up beside the curb, and Clark drummed his fingers across the wheel. He then hunched forwards and squinted. He turned his head slowly and stopped as he faced the building.
''You going to try and get him?''
''I don't think there's any need now. The Police seem to have this handled.''
He turned to where Clark was looking and squinted. He looked through the building, and a few roads, and he saw a policeman. Not the ones from before, but they were escorting a man into a police car nonetheless.
''Maybe the police aren't completely useless here.''
Clark sat back in his seat. ''So you do have supervision.'' They pulled out of the curb. ''What other abilities do you have?''
''I don't know. I'm really strong. I'm pretty fast. I can jump high. I've got pretty good hearing. Like, I can hear you from far away. I can look through things.''
''What about heat vision?''
''Do you mean the laser eyes thing? Then kind of. I can't do it when I want. It just comes at random.''
''I see. I remember when I was younger, some of my powers were difficult to control.'' Harry saw Clark smile in the mirror. ''It takes training, but I'm sure we can fix that.''
''I can pick up stuff with my mind too.'' He said. ''Makes things burn too.''
''That is something I can not do,'' Clark admitted. ''I don't that comes from my side.''
It took a moment. ''My…. Mum?''
''How much do you know about your mother?'' Clark asked. ''I know you were raised by your aunt and uncle, but do you know who she is?''
''I don't even know her name.'' He stared at the back of Clark's head. ''I thought she was just dead like you, but maybe she just dropped me at my aunts and forgot about me for eleven years.''
''I won't say I knew your mother well, but she didn't seem like the type of woman to abandon her child.''
''So she is dead.'' He said quietly. ''She had powers too?''
''I don't think so.''
''What do you mean you don't think so?'' He demanded. ''You knew her right?''
''It's complicated.''
''Explain.'' He said cooly. ''How is it complicated? Seems pretty simple to me.''
Clark pressed his lips together. ''I wouldn't say it was that simple. I went to University in London, and that was where I met your mother.''
''So after that, you never talked to her again.''
''Harry,'' Clark said, slightly sharper than before. ''She was only at the university for a few months, before she disappeared without a trace.''
He looked out the window. ''Because of me, I'm guessing.''
''I can't say, but it's possible. Having a baby at university isn't ideal.'' Clark stared ahead. ''But she could have at least told me about you.''
''What was her name?
Clark smiled. ''Her name was Lily.''
Lily. He tried to conjure a face in his mind. At least I know now.
They eventually pulled up to a red, two-storied house. Clark got out first, and he followed behind him, his dogs by his side. For the first time in two years, he stepped into a house. He didn't move from the doormat.
''Make yourself at home,'' Clark said. ''This is your home now.''
He followed Clark into the living room and stood stiffly by the door.
''This is the living room.'' Clark pointed his finger at another room, that was not barred behind a door. ''This is the kitchen. If you're hungry, there should always at least be something in there.''
He looked at the ceiling, and gave an unenthusiastic, ''Hm.''
Clark looked at him before he pointed a finger at the TV. ''If you feel bored, you can turn this on. You should be able to find something to watch.''
He didn't respond.
Afterwards, the room turned silent, and he kept his eyes anywhere but Clark.
''I can show you your room if you would like.''
''I have a room?''
He raised an eyebrow. ''Of course, you do. This is your home too.''
Silently, he followed Clark up the stairs. He opened the door next to the bathroom and said. ''It's only the guest room, so it might look a little plain. But I hope you like it.''
He stepped inside the room. It was far larger than the cupboard under the stairs. Instead of the thin, rotting mattress, there was a bed with silky sheets. Unlike the cupboard walls that were old and damp, and smelling rotten, the walls here were clean and pale, smelling like a fresh, summer day.
''Well.'' He muttered. ''It's better than my old one.''
He waited until Aero and everyone else were in the room before he closed the door. He could see Clark behind the door, and it was only after half a minute did he leave.
For the first time in who knows how long, he laid on something that wasn't hard concrete. He turned on his bed and stared out into the night.
He stayed there for the next hour and did not move from his bed. He just stared out of the window. Eventually, he heard a hard knock on the door. He ignored it.
''Are you asleep?''
Sighing, he got up and opened the door.
''So you aren't asleep,'' Clark said. ''Are you hungry?''
He shrugged. ''I don't know.''
''If you are, why don't you come downstairs? I made us some pasta.''
''Pasta?''
''Don't you like pasta?''
He shrugged again. ''Never had pasta. And I'm really not that hungry''
Clark folded his arms across his chest. ''When was the last time you ate?''
''Not that long ago. I don't know.''
''Even if we do have super strength, it doesn't mean we don't need to eat,'' Clark said. ''At least eat something.''
''Fine.''
Clark looked over his shoulder. ''You four can come down too. I have some food that you can eat now.''
He frowned. ''You do?''
He followed Clark into the kitchen, and the four Golden Retrievers raced over to their dog bowls, while Clark sat by the table beside them.
''Do you really keep dog food for yourself?'' He asked.
''I don't. I went to get some while you were upstairs. Having Super-Speed does have its perks. I'm sure it would be more comfortable if you sat down.''
He sat down.
''I know the last day has been…. Hectic to say the least. But how are you feeling?''
''Fine.'' He said lamely.
''Good. But you do know if you need to talk, I'm just next door.''
He stabbed a string of pasta. ''Mhm.''
''Are you thirsty?'' Clark asked. ''There should be some soda in the fridge.''
He rested his jaw on his hand. ''Not thirsty.''
''If you ever are, there should at least be some water in there.''
This time he didn't respond.
''Don't you like pasta?''
He looked up from his uneaten plate of pasta and stared at Clark blandly.
''Is it the pasta, or is something else bothering you?'' Clark asked.
''Can I just take this upstairs and eat in my room?''
Clark put his fork down. ''Or maybe it has to do with me?''
He sighed. ''I – no, it's not that. It's just when we got back, I thought you'd avoid me, and I'd avoid you.''
''I think I have avoided you enough for eleven years,'' Clark said. ''Why would I avoid my son?''
''Why are you trying to pull the concerned dad shtick? I haven't had a dad, or any parents for eleven years, and I've been just fine.''
''It's not a shtick.''
''Yeah, it is.'' He said. ''You know what's really going on. I know what's really going on. The only reason why I'm here is so you can watch me just in case I do anything you and your friends don't like. Or maybe it's because you don't want the world to know that Superman's son is a criminal. I wonder what people would say about you then. And you know what, I don't really care about that. It's whatever. But just stop trying to pretend otherwise.''
''I didn't know that was what you thought,'' Clark said. ''But I can promise you that isn't the case.''
He rolled his eyes. ''Right.''
''If you don't believe me, then I will just have to prove it with my actions.''
''So you're actually trying to tell me that you aren't even a little embarrassed?''
''Why would I be embarrassed?''
''Maybe because I'm a criminal?''
''Ex-criminal,'' Clark said. ''You have a chance to turn over a new leaf.''
''Maybe.'' He said. ''But I'll always be a criminal, to be honest. If you stop putting on the costume and stop being Superman, you're still going to be a superhero.''
''If I stop being a Hero, not that I would, then I would be considered an ex-Hero,'' Clark said quietly. ''I have known Heroes who have turned into Criminals, and Criminals that have turned into Heroes. Do you want to know what I thought when I first met you?''
''What?''
''I saw a son I didn't know I had going down a dark path. Even if I have only known you for one day, I don't want this for you. I want you to live a good life. I want you to succeed. Not for me, but for you.''
He narrowed his eyes. ''You're right. You don't know me.''
''No,'' Clark said. ''But I want to. I want to learn about your interests. Your hobbies. I know that we won't get those eleven years back, but we have to start somewhere. You aren't here because I'm embarrassed, or that I'm trying to be your warden. But because you're my son that I want to help.''
He didn't respond. It wasn't that he was ignoring him. He listened to every word. It was just every sentence that formed in his head, that quickly faded away.
''How did you end up with them?'' Clark asked, one eye on Abbie.
''I found them a little after I ran away from my Aunts.'' He said after some hesitation. ''It was back when I lived in the sewers.''
''The sewers?'' Clark asked slowly.
''Yeah, it wasn't just me. There were a few others living down there. I stayed there for a while… at least until they found out who I was.'' He looked down. ''I remember one time I was looking for some food on the surface, and I saw these guys kicking and shouting at these dogs. They were way smaller back then too. So I knocked them out… and I guess they've been with me ever since.''
Clark's lips curved. ''You're a good person, Harry.''
He laughed dully. ''I think you're the first person who's ever said that.''
After that, he finally started to eat his pasta.
''I know it's getting late,'' Clark said as they finished eating. ''But why don't we watch a movie before bed.''
''A movie?''
''A movie,'' Clark said. ''Do you want to watch one?''
He did not give a ''Yes'' though he did follow Clark Into the living room.
He took a seat on the couch, and Clark sat right next to him. Who turned the TV on. ''Have you seen Star Wars before.''
He shook his head. ''I don't think so. I wasn't really allowed to use the TV.''
''You're in for a treat then.'' Clark bolted out of the in a flashing, scarlet light, before returning with two bowls of popcorn. ''I do hope you like popcorn.''
''Never tried it.'' He took the bowl from Clark and took a bite. Then another. Then another, and another.
''I'm glad you like it,'' Clark said, taking his seat beside him. ''It starting now.''
Harry wasn't exactly sure when he fell asleep, though he knew it was before the movie ended. He remembered eating the last of his popcorn, before he woke up on the coach, with a blanket pulled over him.